Chapter One: Arrivals and Revelations

The air in my apartment was thick with the lingering scent of sandalwood and something distinctly… human. I winced, the memory of the previous night’s escapade still fresh. "Is your porn session finally over?" Orion's voice, laced with a playful yet pointed sarcasm, cut through the silence.

I turned, my cheeks flushing despite my best efforts. Orion stood in the doorway, a mountain of designer luggage at his feet, his usually meticulously styled hair slightly disheveled. He had just arrived from Paris, a sudden, almost impulsive decision to continue his studies in the States. The abruptness of his return had thrown me off balance, but seeing his familiar face after so long was a welcome comfort.

"Rhys, where are you going?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the awkward implications of his earlier question.

"Heading home," I replied, grabbing my keys from the kitchen counter. "What about you? Where are you staying?"

"Uh… nowhere yet." He shifted his weight, his eyes widening into a pleading, almost childlike expression. "Can I stay with you? Please, please, pretty please?"

A sigh escaped my lips. Orion had always been a master of manipulation, his puppy-dog eyes and theatrical pleas almost impossible to resist. "Fine," I relented, stepping closer and grabbing one of his heavier bags. "I live alone anyway."

He pursed his lips, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. "What about your boyfriend? Won’t he mind?"

I offered him a small, reassuring smile. "Frederick won’t care."

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"You should’ve just stayed with me in Paris! I swear, you’d survive better there than I did! I hated every second of studying there!" Orion ranted, his voice echoing through the apartment as I meticulously unpacked his belongings, organizing them into an empty drawer. He paced back and forth, his hands gesturing wildly, painting a vivid picture of his Parisian woes.

"So, what now? What are you going to tell your parents?" I asked, pausing to glance at him.

He fell silent, his usual vibrant energy dimming. He simply shrugged, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I don’t know. Can I stay here for a while? Say… a month?" He looked at me with those pleading eyes again, a hint of vulnerability in their depths.

A soft chuckle escaped my lips. "Of course, Orion."

His face lit up, a radiant smile spreading across his features. "Thank you, Rhys! That’s why I love you!" He exclaimed, pulling me into a tight, almost suffocating hug.

Orion and I had been inseparable since eighth grade. The moment I saw him, with his flamboyant personality and infectious laughter, I knew we’d click. Opening up to him had been effortless, our bond solidifying into a friendship that had weathered nine years of shared secrets, laughter, and tears. I knew him like the back of my hand, his quirks, his insecurities, his hidden depths. I also knew that his sudden return wasn’t solely due to homesickness. There was something more, something he wasn’t ready to share. But I chose not to pry, trusting that he would confide in me when he was ready.

"Oh! I should call Lucas, Tyler, and Matt! We should party—because the diva is back!" He exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement.

I chuckled at his enthusiasm. "Go ahead. I'll order some pizza."

"Rhys, if Orion is staying with you, then we can’t, you know…" Frederick pouted, his lower lip jutting out in a way that was both childish and undeniably charming.

I blushed, my eyes widening in mock horror before I playfully smacked his arm. "Frederick!"

He only pouted more, his eyes darkening with desire. "No sexy time for us. Damn it!"

I rolled my eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "That’s all you ever think about, Frederick!"

He smirked, pulling me into his arms, his lips pressing against mine in a soft, lingering kiss. "I can’t help it. Just seeing you makes me want to devour you."

I pursed my lips, trying to maintain a facade of annoyance, but he took it as an invitation, deepening the kiss. A soft moan escaped my lips, and I surrendered to the familiar warmth of his embrace.

"Damn. Now I’m horny. Let’s go to the bathroom?" He whispered, his voice husky with desire.

"Frederick…" I whimpered, my resolve weakening.

His lips trailed down my neck, igniting a familiar fire within me. I knew that if we didn’t stop now, I wouldn’t be able to resist him.

"We can't," I tried to protest, attempting to create some space between us, but his grip tightened. "Please…"

He groaned, burying his face in my neck, his breath warm against my skin. Within seconds, his lips were on mine again, his hands roaming lower, exploring the familiar contours of my body. "Just five minutes, babe. Five minutes."

And I was lost.

He dragged me into the bathroom, locking the door behind us. His lips were on mine again, and soon, my belt was undone, my zipper pulled down. His warm hands trailed lower, sending shivers through me. "We have to be quick," he murmured, his voice thick with desire. Within moments, I was backed against the wall, his hands exploring every inch of me. His fingers found their way into my mouth before he used them to prepare me, sending pleasure through every nerve in my body. "So tight," he groaned.

He held my waist, lifting me slightly as he entered. My body trembled with pleasure as he kissed along my jawline, whispering sinful things into my ear. "Pump yourself for me, baby. Let’s finish together."

I obeyed, moving in sync with him until we both reached our peak. He pulled out slowly, setting me down onto the toilet seat. "Baby, you’re so hot," he said, looking at me with a satisfied smirk.

Before I could respond, there was a loud knock on the door.

"Is your porn session finally over? Can we leave now?"

My face turned crimson. "Shit, Orion!"

I panicked, pushing Frederick away in shock. He slipped out of me suddenly, and we both let out startled moans. I quickly covered my mouth, glaring at him, but he only shrugged as if he didn’t care that Orion had just caught us. We hurriedly fixed ourselves before stepping out of the bathroom. Orion sat on my bed, smirking while tapping away on his phone. As soon as he looked up at me, he grinned mischievously.

"H-how long have you been here? Did you hear…?" I trailed off, my face burning in embarrassment.

He nodded once, standing up to approach me. He patted my shoulder with a smirk. "You're so loud, babe."

I turned bright red while the two idiots burst into laughter. I shot them deadly glares before storming out of the room, leaving them laughing behind me. I hoped they choked on their laughter.

"You’re so wild, baby. No wonder Orion heard us," Frederick teased as we walked toward Orion’s favorite club.

I pinched his arm, but he only chuckled, leaning in to steal another kiss.

"You barely lasted a year in Paris, Orion," Tyler commented, his voice laced with amusement. Lucas and Matt nodded in agreement, their eyes twinkling with mischief.

Orion scoffed, swirling the remaining beer in his glass. He never liked talking about his time in Paris, always finding ways to deflect or change the subject. "Shouldn't you be happy that I’m back?"

We exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between us, before looking at him again.

He groaned, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation. "You guys are the worst."

We all laughed at his dramatic reaction, the tension dissipating into lighthearted banter. But the moment was short-lived, interrupted by the arrival of Frederick’s best friend, Sammy, and a tall, strikingly handsome man with pointed ears that accentuated his otherworldly beauty.

"You?!" All heads turned toward Orion, who had abruptly stood up, his finger pointing accusingly at the newcomer.

The man smirked, his eyes locking with Orion’s. "Orion." Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward and pulled Orion into his arms, his grip tightening around his waist.

"Let go of me, you bastard!" Orion yelled, struggling to break free, throwing wild punches at the man’s face.

I gasped, stepping forward to intervene, but Frederick suddenly grabbed my wrist, pulling me back. "Where are we going?" I asked, confusion and concern swirling within me as he dragged me toward the exit. "Frederick!"

He didn’t answer, his grip firm, his pace quickening.

And in that moment, I knew that this was only the beginning of a series of events that would unravel the carefully constructed facade of our lives, revealing secrets and hidden tensions that threatened to shatter everything we held dear.

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